Blue economy
Economic activity derived from coastal and marine resources, increasingly linked to blue carbon finance.
The blue economy spans fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism and coastal protection. Its climate relevance lies in the overlap between these activities and the mangroves, seagrasses and marshes that store carbon.
Finance flows to blue carbon where coastal restoration aligns with livelihoods and flood protection. The accounting challenge is that coastal systems are dynamic, and measuring change across tide, sediment and storm disturbance demands specialised methods.
Frequently asked questions
Is blue carbon the same as the blue economy?
No. Blue carbon is one component; the blue economy covers all marine and coastal economic activity.
Why is coastal carbon accounting harder?
Because extent shifts with tides and storms, and sediments complicate stock measurement.